Media Statements

The South African Democratic Teachers' Union in Free State held its first PEC meeting of the year on the 17th - 18th March 2017. The PEC meeting is attended by the Provincial Working Committee, Regional Chairpersons and Secretaries; all the six regions were represented. The meeting got the secretariat report and discussed organisational, political and labour issues.

The South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) supports the march by the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers' Union's (SACTWU) to the South African Revenue Service (SARS) offices in Pretoria on Friday, March 10, 2017

The South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU), as an affiliate of global teacher union Federation Education International (EI), is celebrating International Women's Day under both the EI theme: "A woman's place is in her Union for economic justice and empowerment." And United Nation's theme, "Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030.

The South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) endorses the Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) which takes place from the 6th until 12th March, 2017 focusing on Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails, particularly women and children political prisoners, who are incarcerated under extremely appalling conditions with; beatings, insults, threats, sexually explicit harassment and sexual violence, and humiliation at the hands of Israeli security system.

The South African Democratic Teachers' Union is observing an annoying pattern that is developing amongst Eastern Cape Members of the Executive Council who seem to be taking turns to mount unprovoked and unwarranted attacks on educators in the province.

SADTU has received numerous calls from members who are teachers at UMkhanyakude and King Cetshwayo districts that have not been paid. It must be remembered that SADTU has been calling for the movement of all functions especially finance and human resource to the two districts to allow easy and quick processing of appointments and payments. It has come to the point where the Union cannot fold arms and do nothing when it has reached a situation where schools are without teachers, teachers are not paid and many other challenges.

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) met for the first time in 2017 at its National Office - Matthew Goniwe House in Kempton Park on February 24, 2017. The meeting took place after the delivery of the State of the Nation Address by President Jacob Zuma, the National Budget by Minister Pravin Gordhan and the swearing in of former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe as Member of Parliament for the ANC.

The South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) has noted the 2017 Budget delivered by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan. The Budget lacks the radical economic transformation as announced by the President Zuma in his State of the Nation Address (SONA). Does this mean the Treasury is again the spokesperson of the white monopoly capital? The economy is not growing and the financial sector continues to allow the banks to manipulate the currency to enrich them but the Treasury is lukewarm on the matter. The Treasury is loudly silent on the Government bank as part of progress to change the apartheid superstructure.

The South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) fully supports the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) and the National Education Health and Allied Workers' Union (NEHAWU) marches that are due to take place on Wednesday, 22 February 2017.

SADTU has noted, with concern, the remarks by DA leader, Mmusi Maimane in his response to the State of the Nation Address on the 14th of February 2017. The DA leader in his speech made reference to SADTU and suggested that as a union, we were "destructive" in the sector. This rented DA leader went further to comment on education policy and suggested that under his party's leadership, he would introduce a "National Education Inspectorate" whose main task would be to "police" teachers in an effort to curtail SADTU's influence.

The South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) fully supports the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union's (NEHAWU's) National march on Friday, 10 February, 2017 to highlight the plight of workers in the Social Development Sector.

The South African Democratic Teachers' Union condemns in the strongest terms possible the ongoing failure of the Limpopo Department of Education to comply with the laws regarding the payment of the salaries of educators. More than 100 educators nearly spent their Christmas and New Year without having received their salaries were SADTU not to launch an urgent application in the Labour Court on the 2nd December 2016 to force the Department to pay their salaries. As a result of this application, 70 educators received their salaries by December 31 2016.

The Department of Education in the Eastern Cape is at it again, accumulating backlogs on the payment of educator salaries. This is despite the order of the Labour Court on the 14th December 2016. SADTU reiterates its position that the failure of the Department to pay salaries as prescribed in law constitutes a violation of the rights of educators the courts have stated. It is worse when such violations happen despite a court order directing the MEC and the HoD to ensure that all salaries are paid.

The Province, on behalf of its members, wants to congratulate the learners of the matric class of 2016 for the outstanding results.
We applaud all the teachers - from Grade R to 12 - for their dedication to the learners in the province. The Union acknowledges its members who have tirelessly worked after school, over weekends and during vacations to prepare their learners in achieving this milestone.

The South African Democratic Teachers' Union'(SADTU) in the Free State notes and welcomes the appointment of the new Head of Department for Education, Advocate Tsoarelo Malakoane by the Hon. Premier Ace Magashule in terms of the Public Service Act (No. 103 of 1994).

The South African Democratic Teachers Union has noted with disdain the comments attributed to the Premier of the North West Provincial government Supra Mahumapelo regarding the salaries of certain government employees. It is reported that the North West Provincial Government will "most likely" cut the salaries of certain public servants during the 2017 financial year.

The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) in KZN has noted the release of improved 2016 matric results and joins the entire education fraternity to welcome them with excitement. This is a reflection of collective efforts of all stakeholders in education. We send accolades and praises to our members and educators in general for their unwavering commitment to work mainly under the most difficult and trying conditions. We salute learners who accepted the challenge and availed themselves for all extra classes organized for them in a bid to broaden access to tuition classes. The majority of parents have realized the need to play a more meaningful role in the education of their children and the value thereof is manifestly reflected in these improved results.